How To Manage Smoke Odor After a Fire

11/21/2018 (Permalink)

Clean up after a smoke damage in a Hazel Dell,WA home

Managing damage after a fire can be a daunting experience for any business owner in Hazel Dell, WA. Depending on the nature of the fire, water, soot and smoke destruction may all be present. Because miniscule smoke particles can scatter throughout your office, smoke cleaning can be particularly challenging. Fortunately, there are several techniques you can employ to combat the noxious odor.

Contributing Factors

Numerous factors may contribute to the amount of smoke odor present in your office space:

• Magnitude of the inferno
  
• Extent of fire damage
  
• Amount of time blaze burned
  
• Size of the affected area

Regardless of the scope of damage, ridding your building of the unpleasant smoky aroma often requires significant cleanup efforts.

Circulate Air

Circulating fresh air may help alleviate smoke odor intensity. If possible, open windows and use large fans to push smoke-scented air out of your building.

Clean Affected Area

Ridding the affected area of soot residue can also help eliminate smoke damage. You should use a dry sponge, water and mild detergent or a commercial cleaning agent to thoroughly clean walls and other hard surfaces. You should also steam clean or apply deodorizing cleaning products to carpets and upholstered furniture.

Use Odor Absorbing Substances

To further aid smoke cleaning efforts, you can also place activated charcoal or baking soda around your office space. Both products are odor-absorbing substances that may be particularly useful in small spaces.

Clean HVAC Ducts

Smoke particles and soot residue can also infiltrate your building’s HVAC ducts and filters. As part of your fire cleanup efforts, you should change your HVAC filters and complete a thorough air duct cleaning.

A Manageable Problem

Smoke damage is one form of destruction that your business may face after a fire. Although smoke odor may linger after the blaze is extinguished, you can alleviate the problem by completing a thorough soot and smoke cleaning.